Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj the Sheriff Returns Edition

[Rapala]

They don't have practices, but players till train and skate with each other.

Suzuki talked about how many players decided to stick around and skate together last season.
There are quite a group of NHL players who like to hang around Montreal. Remember that 3v3 ehibition league they put together the year before. I think Suzuki's team won.

 

[bcv]

Not sure I’d compare Arber and Weber, but of course playoff hockey is tough. What you can’t do is fight or retaliate. I’m sure he’d be fine incidentally, but remove those skills.

You still play Hutson 30 minutes and cannot pair him with Arber.. It’s ok if you have Arber ahead of Struble, I think the latter deserves to be there.

I'm obviously not comparing their overall play, but their mean streak.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Weber et al. were smart positionally and played with poise. Weber didn’t nearly crush people as often as we could have but he neutralized the opposition’s play with his positioning, angling, tracking, marking, stick work, etc.

Xhekaj is borderline at an NHL level in all those things. All he has is his athleticism and strength.

It feels like people see what they want to see in Xhekaj… reminds me of the strange affection for Douglas Murray. The big hits were sexy but the awful everything else kinda sucked.

 

[Rapala]

I don't think we have a nastier better box out player than Arber. His game is zone and his best games are territorial battles at the lines in the corners and net front. The problems start when you ask him to start chasing players instead of defending territory. Watch every good to very good game he's had and you'll see this is what sticks out most in his play. A stay at home nasty this is my space rogue. He just needs to improve his stick work and win more pucks given his physique thereby snuffing out more plays.

 

[teamfirst]

This is playoff hockey (and has been for a few weeks)… You don’t play a guy because he can fight. They don’t fight in playoffs. And you can’t run guys in retaliation bedause of the stakes. Man up, kids. And/or learn from it.

They will probably run with the guys that got them there and it has nothing to do with the org not liking the guy.

I enjoy watching him play like all of you btw, totally my type of player.

Not totally true, that often depends on the score during the game, let's say for example we lead 5-1 with 10 min to go in the third Wash would surely start preparing the next game running everybody, specially our best players.

That's why i think having a guy like X in the line up would be better than having Strubble, anyway both would be playing minimum minutes ......Strubble may have a little advantage playing wise but not enough imo to overcome what Xhejka bring to the team, specially in a playoffs serie against a tough team like the Caps.

 

[OldCraig71]

Weber et al. were smart positionally and played with poise. Weber didn’t nearly crush people as often as we could have but he neutralized the opposition’s play with his positioning, angling, tracking, marking, stick work, etc.

Xhekaj is borderline at an NHL level in all those things. All he has is his athleticism and strength.

It feels like people see what they want to see in Xhekaj… reminds me of the strange affection for Douglas Murray. The big hits were sexy but the awful everything else kinda sucked.

Xhekaj doesn't suck. He is a bottom pair defenseman who had the misfortune of being paired with a soon-to-be-retired partner. Johnathan Kovacevic was also a player who "sucked" but was able to become a vital part of the Devils back end once given the opportunity.

Most defenders need 3-5 years in the league before hitting their stride, but why are so few willing to afford Arber that time to grow? He is a brute of a man that is learning on the fly and adds toughness to this lineup, and most gms would jump at the chance to trade for him.

 

[Ozmodiar]

They don't have practices, but players till train and skate with each other.

He trains back home in the GTA. I believe he’ll be back there again this off-season.

Like someone said, skating will likely be the priority. Also, perhaps defensive stick work which can help him on the PK. PK more of a team tactic but there’s a few skills things he can work on to help.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Xhekaj doesn't suck. He is a bottom pair defenseman who had the misfortune of being paired with a soon-to-be-retired partner. Johnathan Kovacevic was also a player who "sucked" but was able to become a vital part of the Devils back end once given the opportunity.

Most defenders need 3-5 years in the league before hitting their stride, but why are so few willing to afford Arber that time to grow? He is a brute of a man that is learning on the fly and adds toughness to this lineup, and most gms would jump at the chance to trade for him.

The ‘suck’ is in reference to Douglas Murray. I don’t think Xhekaj sucks, I just don’t think he’s NHL quality or reliable at the moment — which is also what you’re saying, in fact.

 

[dinodebino]

you sure that was actually his account? because there's nothing like that on his stories and no one is talking about anything like this on twitter

It was.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I definitely feel for the guy, having to sit those games out has to absolutely suck. He needs to use this frustration and turn it into a positive now, somehow. He'll get his opportunity again down the road, he'll have to make the most of it when it comes. I trust him to defy the odds again.

 

[OldCraig71]

The ‘suck’ is in reference to Douglas Murray. I don’t think Xhekaj sucks, I just don’t think he’s NHL quality or reliable at the moment — which is also what you’re saying, in fact.

That isn't what I'm saying at all. David Savard is the problem at even strength, but he still possesses the ability to be effective on the pk because his lack of speed is not exploited when we are set up in a 4-man box.

Struble is not looking as good with Savard as he did with Hutson and it's because he has to cover more ice to compensate for Savard and the same can be said for Xhekaj.

 

[dcyhabs]

They are going to need him against Wilson.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Xhekaj doesn't suck. He is a bottom pair defenseman who had the misfortune of being paired with a soon-to-be-retired partner. Johnathan Kovacevic was also a player who "sucked" but was able to become a vital part of the Devils back end once given the opportunity.

Most defenders need 3-5 years in the league before hitting their stride, but why are so few willing to afford Arber that time to grow? He is a brute of a man that is learning on the fly and adds toughness to this lineup, and most gms would jump at the chance to trade for him.

this ^^100%

 

[HabzSauce]

I don't think we have a nastier better box out player than Arber. His game is zone and his best games are territorial battles at the lines in the corners and net front. The problems start when you ask him to start chasing players instead of defending territory. Watch every good to very good game he's had and you'll see this is what sticks out most in his play. A stay at home nasty this is my space rogue. He just needs to improve his stick work and win more pucks given his physique thereby snuffing out more plays.

This is perfect for playoff hockey. Washington is a big team & we need a stay at home presence like Arber to handle business. As long as he doesn't wander like you said he should be a big net positive in that department

 

[jaffy27]

They are going to need him against Wilson.

Yup…if he’s not in the lineup, Wilson will run around freely intimidating our smaller skilled player.

With Xhekaj on the ice, he will still play physical but surely not imposing his will which in turn would probably allow us to play more our game.

I remember too well Boston running around beating the hell out of our players and having a grand old time doing it too all while watching the Bruin fans laughing away and dancing as our players faces are being pounded in.

I don’t think I can go through that again

 

[Miller Time]

Hard to prove much from the press box, no? Any time he does anything that Marty doesn’t like, he’s banished instantly. Nobody else has that short of a leash. Nobody. If it was a meritocracy, David would have been sitting several times.

And old David Savard was reliable yes… the present day version of David Savard is like one of those great big oversized, steel frame caddies that could haul around a buffalo because they were so massive. Now it’s falling apart and worth little, and should be scrapped.

PKs are system based.
Savard plays/played a large role in a very effective PK unit.
As limited as he is, in particular in transition, his play in the dzone and ozone were serviceable in limited 3rd pair ES minutes.

Xhekaj was mediocre all year in all three phases, I don't know that any NHL coach in a chase for a playoff spot is playing him over Savard unless it's injury or rest.

I hope he gets a chance in the playoffs, injuries are inevitable the more games we play. Once he does, he'll have the tough task of playing well enough to keep his spot while not trying to do to much.

Almost regardless of what KH does in the offseason, the battle for a bottom pairing role in the Habs lineup will be intense... A lot of young players pushing to earn NHL regular opportunity he got this past season... Again here it will be on him to show he can take it. If anything, the pugilist element he brings is a huge edge in his favor, but the rest of his game will need to take a big step forward

 

[jaffy27]

This is perfect for playoff hockey. Washington is a big team & we need a stay at home presence like Arber to handle business. As long as he doesn't wander like you said he should be a big net positive in that department

I’d have strict instructions for Arber, like you said box out, keep em’ to the outside, crush em’ along the boards, no need to wander out of position for the big open ice hit, we’ll leave that to Guhle.

His presence alone should keep things in check…as a matter of fact, Arber should have a chat with Wilson at centre ice in pregame warmup and lay down the law, his message should be “I’m the big fish in this pond, you are accountable to me for all your actions, I’ll pound your face in on your home ice for all your family, friends, teammates and fans to see, tread very carefully or I’ll use your face as a human piñata”

 

[CzarDemidov]

I’d have strict instructions for Arber

And if he doesn’t listen to the instructions and we get scored on — you’d then bench him, right?

This is precisely what happened multiple times this year.

 

[Habs]

Weber et al. were smart positionally and played with poise. Weber didn’t nearly crush people as often as we could have but he neutralized the opposition’s play with his positioning, angling, tracking, marking, stick work, etc.

Xhekaj is borderline at an NHL level in all those things. All he has is his athleticism and strength.

It feels like people see what they want to see in Xhekaj… reminds me of the strange affection for Douglas Murray. The big hits were sexy but the awful everything else kinda sucked.

No, he’s a steady young dman that you build your team around and important. Savard is toast, Struve is a dime a dozen #6 dman that would probably clear waivers like Harris. Teams would lineup to take Arbs on their core and have him patrol the blue line for years to come like Odelein. Have fun with your p***y teams that haven’t won anything since 93 because of it. Look at our last little playoff run and how big and nasty out blue line was, those guys are vital to making it through a rough series. Chariot, Weber, Edmundson , you pay the price. We have one guy capable of doing that lol

 

[CzarDemidov]

No, he’s a steady young dman that you build your team around and important. Savard is toast, Struve is a dime a dozen #6 dman that would probably clear waivers like Harris. Teams would lineup to take Arbs on their core and have him patrol the blue line for years to come like Odelein. Have fun with your p***y teams that haven’t won anything since 93 because of it. Look at our last little playoff run and how big and nasty out blue line was, those guys are vital to making it through a rough series. Chariot, Weber, Edmundson , you pay the price. We have one guy capable of doing that lol

I want Xhekaj to play, I’ve no interest in a pansy team either. I wish we had other tough players (like a not-ancient Savard) so the lack of one wouldn’t feel so acute.

 

[The Real Timo]

No, he’s a steady young dman that you build your team around and important. Savard is toast, Struve is a dime a dozen #6 dman that would probably clear waivers like Harris. Teams would lineup to take Arbs on their core and have him patrol the blue line for years to come like Odelein. Have fun with your p***y teams that haven’t won anything since 93 because of it. Look at our last little playoff run and how big and nasty out blue line was, those guys are vital to making it through a rough series. Chariot, Weber, Edmundson , you pay the price. We have one guy capable of doing that lol

It's funny how everyone loved Xhekaj when he joined the team. And then St Louis decided that he doesn't like him and now all the same people who would defend St Louis to the grave, naturally don't like Xhekaj. If rest of the Habs D didn't have flaws or made mistakes at the same fukcing rate, is one thing. But when you tell me "Well, but Mike Matheson plays 25 minutes a game... " GTFO. In these 25 minutes he makes 5 times the number of mistakes Xhekaj makes when he plays. In this case more minutes is not equal to better outcome. I too am f***ing tired with the p***y teams and coaching. St Louis, who himself as a player no doubt had some tough guys looking after him and other high caliber players on the team. This is so infuriating, given that Xhekaj doesn't play in favor of a good steady defenseman. He doesn't play in favor of Savard, FFS!

 

[Habs]

It's funny how everyone loved Xhekaj when he joined the team. And then St Louis decided that he doesn't like him and now all the same people who would defend St Louis to the grave, naturally don't like Xhekaj. If rest of the Habs D didn't have flaws or made mistake at the same fukcing rate, is one thing. But when you tell me "Well, but Mike Matheson plays 25 minutes a game... " GTFO. In these 25 minutes he makes 5 times the number of mistakes Xhekaj makes when he plays. In this case more minutes is not equal to better outcome. I too am f***ing tired with the p***y teams and coaching. St Louis, who himself as a player no doubt had some tough guys looking after him and other high caliber players on the team. This is so infuriating, given that Xhekaj doesn't play in favor of a good steady defenseman. He doesn't play in favor of Savard, FFS!

Why is it only our tough players are benched and singled out for games by MSL? Are we to believe guys like Savard, Struble, Matheson etc didn’t need to sit a game since the Allstar Break?

 

[Sorinth]

Why is it only our tough players are benched and singled out for games by MSL? Are we to believe guys like Savard, Struble, Matheson etc didn’t need to sit a game since the Allstar Break?

Wait you don't think Savard is tough? Like that's a wild freaking take.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He trains back home in the GTA. I believe he’ll be back there again this off-season.

Like someone said, skating will likely be the priority. Also, perhaps defensive stick work which can help him on the PK. PK more of a team tactic but there’s a few skills things he can work on to help.

His skating is fine.

His problem is reading the play and not possessing adequate small area tactics that create space and allow him to use his tools. He has handled the puck like a grenade this season which is largely a confidence issue. Improving his ability to identify the correct option sooner and adding some fine tuning to his ability to handle the puck to evade forecheckers in the dzone and at the opposing blueline will do wonders for his game and confidence.

I think it is entirely up to him and he needs to commit this summer to staying in Montreal and working on these things as opposed to going home to his personal trainer and doing what he has always done.

I believe that he can be even more than a bottom pairing dman but it will take a serious commitment to working harder than ever and accepting the reality that he needs to try something different than just working out and expecting to improve.

 

[Habs]

Wait you don't think Savard is tough? Like that's a wild freaking take.

What has Savard EVER done to show he is tough? Shove and yell at a guy? You talking about his willingness to drop to the ice and block a shot? I’m talking about clearing the net, getting nasty, he doesn’t do that lol